Construction of the parkway began in 1935 and continued for 52 years until final completion in 1987. It connects Shenandoah NP to Great Smoky Mountains NP with 469 miles of two-lane blacktop with speeds never exceeding 45 mph.
We stopped at the James River Visitor Center where a canal lock from the James River and Kanawha Canal, designed by George Washington, has been reconstructed. Canals flourished in the period following the War of 1812 into the 1840s with the high point being the completion of the Erie Canal in 1825. But the first commercial railroad service began in 1827 and quickly replaced the canals. Railroad companies took over many of the rights-of-way and the tracks of the Chesapeake and Ohio Railway can be seen not 20 yards away.
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| James River from Visitor Center |
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| James River |
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| Lock Mechanism |
We continued south to the Peaks of Otter Lodge where we stopped for lunch (excellent, fresh apple pie from local orchards). The area surrounding the three peaks of Otter get their name from the Ewings, early residents whose Scottish name was "Clan Ewing of Otter." This area was a resting place for Native Americans long before the settlers arrived but the lake was man-made in 1964.
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| Peaks of Otter Lodge on Abbott Lake |
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| Abbott Lake |
At this point, road construction reduced traffic to one lane, so we reluctantly returned to the Interstate to complete our journey to Asheville, NC.
The following day we drove the final 72 mile leg of the Parkway between Great Smoky Mountains NP and Asheville and this was the highlight of the Parkway for us.
The Parkway is not noted for its great vistas, but it was on this section of the Parkway that we had the view into the valley from above the clouds that I remember from the Skyline Drive.
The following day we drove the final 72 mile leg of the Parkway between Great Smoky Mountains NP and Asheville and this was the highlight of the Parkway for us.
The Parkway is not noted for its great vistas, but it was on this section of the Parkway that we had the view into the valley from above the clouds that I remember from the Skyline Drive.
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| Blue Ridge Parkway Above the Clouds |
And finally, at the Devils Courtyard Overlook we saw the best fall color of the Appalachians.
